…Urges Security Agents to be Combatant to Check Violence
The Centre for Transparency Advocacy has expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and security agencies ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election.
According to CTA, the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials by INEC has been smooth so far while police and NSCDC had deployed about 30,000 officers put together for the success of the poll.
During a pre-election press conference in Ado Ekiti, Executive Director of the group, Faith Nwadishi however urged INEC to sustain the tempo while security agents must not lose guard based on the calmness being witnessed at the moment.
“We commend INEC for asserting its independence by keeping sensitive materials in the INEC offices instead of the Central Bank which was the tradition in the past.
“We hope this will be sustained. We are also impressed by the energy the INEC Chairman has exuded in the past weeks having paid working visits to Ekiti State to ensure that the election holds seamlessly and rancour free.
“The CTA wishes to remind INEC that the Ekiti election should be taken seriously just because its failure or success counts towards the credibility of the EMB being the first election to be conducted under the new Electoral Act 2022 and the new INEC Guidelines on Elections.
The group call on INEC to address challenges that may arise during the election in good time to achieve a credible, free, and fair election.
CTA worried over the violence recorded during the last week involving drivers and political thugs urging everyone to be peaceful during the poll.
Members of the public are advised to troop out and perform their civic role without engaging in vote trading.
“The CTA calls on political parties and supporters to shun rancour within and among themselves.
They should refrain from actions and activities that pose threat to public safety.
It added that the signing of the peace accord by political parties and their candidates was a significant milestone towards the election hence it commended the Kuka Centre as they continue to play the significant role towards peaceful elections in Nigeria.